Free The Truth About Love by Stephanie Laurens Page B

thrown out is simply amazing.”
    “Does the path lead down to it?” Gerrard asked.
    “Yes, but it doesn’t go onto Cyclops, the rock, itself—it’s too dangerous. The surface is perennially slippery, and the sea’s quite deep just there. The currents are very strong, and, of course, if anyone ever got sucked into the blowhole, they’d be smashed against the rocks inside.”
    He glanced at her. “Can we go closer?”
    Her smile deepened. “I was planning to. Beyond Cyclops, the path curves around and heads back to the house.”
    Jacqueline started down the steps onto the last path. Gerrard moved to follow her.
    “Jacqueline, dear, I’ll wait for you here.”
    With Jacqueline, Gerrard turned to look back at Millicent. She smiled gamely at them. “While I’m certain I have enough stamina to return to the house from here, going down that last stretch might just be too much.”
    “Oh…all right. We’ll just go down and come back.”
    Gerrard glanced at Barnaby, still on the platform beside Millicent.
    “Actually,” Barnaby said, “I have a better idea. You said that path curves around—does it meet this one?” He pointed to the path to his left.
    Jacqueline frowned lightly. “Yes, they converge in the Garden of Vulcan just below the south ridge. From there, the path leads through the Gardens of Hermes and Diana, to the upper viewing platform, the only one we’ve yet to visit.”
    Barnaby turned to Millicent. “Why don’t we head that way, taking in the sights at our leisure, and these two can go down and view Cyclops, then join us at the upper platform?”
    “But don’t you wish to view Cyclops from closer range?” Millicent asked.
    “I do.” Barnaby smiled, distinctly devil-may-care; he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But I would prefer to get closer than Miss Tregonning would probably think wise, and I would be loath to argue with such a charming hostess.” He flashed his irrepressible smile at Jacqueline. “I’ll come back later.”
    Jacqueline looked uncertain.
    “Go on.” Barnaby waved them on. “I’ll stroll with Miss Tregonning and enjoy the sylvan delights.” So saying, he offered Millicent his arm. Surrendering, she took it and allowed him to lead her up the other path.
    Jacqueline stood watching, frowning.
    Gerrard waited for a moment, then touched her arm. “Shall we?”
    She didn’t jump, but when she turned her head and her eyes met his, they were a fraction wide. “Yes, of course.”
    She sounded a touch breathless. Side by side, they walked down the sloping path. His latest questions burned in his brain, but he decided to ask someone else—possibly Millicent—about Jacqueline’s mother rather than put his foot wrong with her. As for her reaction to the Garden of Venus, he wasn’t yet sure what that was, but she’d said they would pass it on their way back—time enough to probe then.
    They rounded the last bend in the path; the breeze off the waves hit them, and snatched at her parasol. She quickly furled it; he waited while she secured it, then offered his arm. “It’ll be safer if you hold on to me.”
    She drew in a breath, then slid her hand around his elbow, laying her fingers on his sleeve. Sensing her uncertainty, he didn’t draw her close, but now they were in the open, the breeze shrieked about them, plastering her dress to her figure, tugging at her skirts. She really would be safer clinging to him, taking refuge in his windshadow.
    He wished she would. Most young ladies would unhesitatingly seize the opportunity; instead, she struggled to walk by his side and keep a decorous distance between them. Despite his unwanted sexual awareness of her, still notably high, her caution rankled.
    They reached the line of rocks above the sloping shore. At the southern end of the cove, the massive bulk of Cyclops rose from the waves, its seaward faces cloaked in spume and spray.
    Gerrard squinted. “Is that a ledge running around it?”
    “Yes.”